Golden Boy shows up on ESPN on a Friday night with a quality main event between Alberto Machado (17-0, 15 KOs) and Carlos Morales (16-13, 6 KOs) at the Complejo Ferial in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The fight is for one of those WBO NABO belts no one seems to care about.
In the undercard, we’ll Emanuel Rivera (17-1, 11 KOs) vs Nate Greene (8-0).
I’ll be picking up the live blog sometime during the undercard because I cover high school football on Friday nights. I’ll have the main event for sure.
As always, scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for the press release from Golden Boy.
Alberto Machado vs. Carlos Morales on August 18
NABO Super Featherweight champion Alberto “El Explosivo” Machado (17-0, 15 KOs) and NABA Super Featherweight champion Carlos “The Solution” Morales (16-1-3, 6 KOs) will both face their toughest challenges to date as they go toe-to-toe for 10 rounds in the main event of the August 18 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN.
Machado, 26 from San Juan, and Morales, 27 originally from Hidalgo, Mexico, will reignite the famed Puerto Rico vs. Mexico feud that always produces fireworks in the ring.
The heavy-handed Machado has never tasted defeat and comes in riding an impressive 12-fight knockout streak.
“I feel honored and extra motivated for this great opportunity that Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Promotions are giving me to perform on ESPN.” Machado said. “Carlos Morales is a tough Mexican fighter who is young and hungry like me. I will train as hard as I can to give the fans a great fight and another classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry. This will be another test for me on my journey to become Puerto Rico’s next world champion.”
Morales has already had a remarkable career, having reeled off 16 straight victories and the NABA title after starting his career 0-1-3.
“I understand I am going into the lion’s den in Puerto Rico and facing a really good fighter, but I have worked too hard to take a step backwards,” Morales said. “I am going to train harder than I ever have before, and I know that at the end of the fight, I will emerge victorious.”
“Everyone at Golden Boy is excited to go to Puerto Rico and stage a great card with our wonderful partners from Miguel Cotto Promotions and ESPN,” said Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and Chairman of Golden Boy Promotions. “This is going to be the beginning of a wonderful relationship that will help revitalize the great historic tradition of boxing in Puerto Rico and give residents an incredible sporting option.”
The remainder of the card will feature prospects from Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions to be announced in the coming weeks.
“We are really pleased and excited to work together with Oscar and Golden Boy Promotions to bring ESPN to Puerto Rico. This is a special show for me because I performed on ESPN many years ago and brings the perfect stage for the upcoming talents to show up their talent,” said Miguel Cotto.
The fights are on ESPN 2 at 11. p.m. EST. Watch them with me.
